Post-Bannon Trump administration could take harder line on trade

Tokyo

THE firing by US President Donald Trump of his chief strategist Steve Bannon, a fierce opponent of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) in which Japan has invested heavily, has sparked hopes in Tokyo of a softer Washington line on the TPP and other US trade accords important to the country.

Japan's Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso will reportedly head for the US next month to prepare for a second round of bilateral economic talks in which the TPP as well as the North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta), which is also of importance to Japanese business, are expected to figure.